Thursday, March 30, 2017

These boys LOVE donuts. Grandpa spoils them and brings them by often on Saturday mornings.

The long johns are Jonah's favorite..although for some reason he refers to them as "gloves".

"I wanna nother glove!"

We went to Exploration Place a couple times..they had a really cool Ice Age exhibit.

He kind of combined all types of styles here...

Ben showing his abilities and the proper basketball attire to the boys.

We went to story time at the library several Wednesdays. Both Noah and Jonah enjoy it at different levels (Isaac pretty much slept through it!). Jonah is very verbally interactive, whereas Noah thoroughly enjoys listening and then later will repeat the stories. And we'd always leave with a stack of books...and EVERYBODY loves that!

We had a wide range of weather...

but the boys were able to play outside several times in shorts and shirts (or in Jonah's case lacking both!). They had a picnic supper due to both their request and how dirty they were!

Just a glimpse into my mornings...

it usually goes something like Jonah chasing Noah trying to pester him/hurt him, and Noah runs screaming not fighting back...but they both end up running to me. So here they sat/lay, on the bathroom floor while I was trying to get ready in the ever-so-thoughtful-way that they do :)

It was family night at the indoor football arena in Wichita...sponsored by Kansas Electric.

Kade and Christian got to go out with Grandpa to meet the players, throw the game ball, and do the coin toss. They got signed footballs to keep!

Isaac is growing and changing daily...

my little guy and I matching in our grey and white stripes!

Easter cookie making party!

His PJ's say chick magnet...

he may be shy, but I tell you what at home he has quite the volume and spunk.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Over this past month, you have grown almost 2 pounds! No wonder it seems like you are getting bigger and growing out of clothes. You are now 12 lb 6 oz (53%) and 23.6 inches long (78%), wear 3 month clothes, and size 1 diapers (although the rolls on your thighs are asking for size 2 soon!).

You had your first Valentines Day (all the extra kisses and hugs you could have ever hoped for!). Some of your faces crack me up. You can give a real good mean mug, eyebrows furrowed, lips puckered out, stone face...but I think its because you are trying so hard to listen intently. It is funny how you can go from this, to a smile that spreads across your whole face. Oh, it melts my heart.

Jonah is still a huge fan of you! He is starting to be quite bossy to Noah regarding you in particular, "No get to close to him, Noah! Be QUIEEEETTT Noah! No touch him...get back! Leave him be Noah!" All of these things he should really be telling himself (as he has been told many times by me), but somehow he finds it more appropriate to warn Noah how to act with you. All your brothers are very good with you, you should be well looked after for quite some time!

We get to hang out in the evenings. Sometimes you lay down without a problem after your 8-8:30 feeding, and that is a bit of a shock that I don't have anyone to tend to for a bit (ahem..right now as I type this!). But often, you get a bit of a tummy ache and like to be held in the evening. As long as I'm holding you and if all else fails I feed you a long drawn out snack feed, then you are good. I don't mind, I love to hold you..you are a snuggly little boy. Then after your 11-11:30 feeding, I lay you down, and you sleep until around 4ish. So you are getting better! I don't really keep track of what your nap times are throughout the day...they happen when you're tired, I know that! But I do know you eat roughly, every 3 or so hours throughout the day.

"Hello?? Yes, I was wondering if I could order a bedtime snack? Perhaps some warm milk...and I'll do my best to sleep for a good long while if you give me plenty!"

You are wiggling more and more when you're awake. I used to lay you on the couch and not have to worry about you moving yourself (your brothers pestering you there is another story!). But just recently, you have shown me how strong you are both in your bed and the couch. You inch your legs over and over, and you definitely can MOVE! Luckily, Christian is a good helper if I need to leave the room for just a short bit and you want to be held. All three boys, do very well with you, and don't seem too bothered if you are unhappy (aka...crying). They will either inform me that "Isaac crrrrrying" or Christian will simply say, "Mommy, I think Isaac just wants you to hold him. He likes you. Or maybe he's hungry, he likes your milk." Noah's reaction is funny, he'll get close to him and talk with his lips outward, "Sweet Isaac, what's the matter? Are you crrrrying? What's the matter?? It's okay. Ohhhh, sweet Issaaaac."

You got a new super soft blankie from Grandma. She has made you some very cozy blankets!! You sleep in your bed every night now. You sleep best on your tummy, and I know "they" say back is best...but you simply do not stay sleeping on your back (unless Daddy or I hold you). You've had crazy strong head control since the day you were born.

You like bath time. I think this picture was the last time in this bath tub. It was super handy to use in the sink, but you are kind of squished in there. Since then, we've used the other baby tub...and you really like to move your legs in the water when you are in there!

Everyone was a bit fussy this particular evening. So...I played the piano, and you wanted to be held. It worked...you liked it..and so did the other boys.

Another thing you started doing more is making noises..the sweet voice discovery ones. "A-goooo, A-geee." And sometimes when you smile at me as I'm talking to you, you make a squeal laugh like as if you can hardly contain the smile any longer! It is the sweetest sound.

We love you so much Isaac. I would say stop growing so fast, but I also want you to be healthy...so I suppose I will just keep embracing the days as they come.

Friday, March 3, 2017

I feel as though you are growing up literally overnight, so I thought it was time to remember you at this stage in life.

You are QUITE the character. Goodness, you bring so much spunk, so much sass, test my patience to the MAX....yet, you are hilarious, handsome, and so lovable.

The worry that we had prior to Isaac's birth (that you'd be very possessive and jealous) has vanished since you met him...you adore Isaac. You get in his face to admire him, you ask "where Isaac?" if he happens to be sleeping, you let use know "Isaac sweeping?" and then you attempt to nuzzle up next to him with your cheek on his head. You seem to need to know where and what he is doing at all times, and inform others (ahem..Noah) of his whereabouts and if he is allowed to touch him. "Noah, leave him alllooone. Don't touch him, Noah. Get back, Noah." (Ironically, you are told these things on a frequent basis, and Noah doesn't really seem to have a problem with touching him.)

You like to mimic any noises he makes, and then smile/laugh like its the funniest thing you've ever heard. Its so funny. I especially like when you mimic him looking around, you make your eyes go back and forth and say "Isaac say, uuh--uh---uhhh-uh". And when he cries, you let me know, in case I can't hear him, "Isaac cccccrrrryyiinngg, mommy!"

You try and keep up with your other brothers. You are tough, and can muscle your way around when you want something. You are not always welcomed with open arms when they are playing however, and this creates a problem for you...which usually you try to solve by completely destroying whatever it is they are working on. Thankfully, you have stopped running with your mouth wide open at Noah, as though you are going to bite the daylights out of him (you definitely DID bite him for several months...not okay!).

You are referred to as "buddy" by both Christian and Noah...very occasionally they will use your actual name. We still call you Jo-Jo, and could easily call you "hammer" or something along those lines..but we aren't exactly looking to encourage some of your 'hammer' tendencies.

You refer to yourself as me, and begin MANY of your sentences with "me". "Me no like that", "me go over dare (there)", "me go down-dares (stairs)", "me go outside", "me want juice", "me not go to bed", "me not poop my pants", "me want to watch a show", "me do it by mine-self."

You are talking so much more in general. I can't keep up with all the things you say, but it is often very funny. You're currently in a phase where you are "cared" (scared) of many things that you let us know about. "Me cared of Cleo" (mom and dad's dog)....even though she is very kind to you. "Me scared of buuuuugs!" "Me cared of the dark." "You cared me Mommy." (If I walk in a room when he's looking down or at a book).

You have started singing more. And it is both sweet and hilarious. You combine songs like crazy, Jesus Loves Me and Twinkle Twinkle get intermixed, with a bit of Silent Night in there. Its so funny. One of your latest versions of a song based off one Grandma sings when you nap at her house, "God loves me and Grandma loves me....Hallelujah!" (on repeat).

You love animals. Well, I should clarify, you love the idea of animals. You love to play with toy animals, you love to look at animals both in real life and on a show. But the reality isn't quite so "lovely", you spazz out if Cleo (mom and dad's friendly dog) gets near you, or our chickens (who are definitely more scared of you than you of them) get close to you. So for now, toy animals are what you love!

You have a tender side. The other day, when we were getting into the van, you accidentally broke my necklace. I was disappointed, didn't have to even say much, actually I didn't say much at all. I continued to get you and Isaac into the van, and as I was pulling out of the garage, you looked very serious at me and said, "Sorry Mommy, for breaking your neck-wace. Sorry for doing dat." Other times, when you have not realized how rough you are playing and you bonk into my head or smash my foot, I will let you know that it hurt...you will come give the sweetest look, lean your head on me, kiss wherever it is that you hurt, and say, "Sorry mommy, sorry me hurt you, you okay Mommy?"

You also have a super feisty side. This is most often shown when playing with Noah, and sometimes Christian. You know how to button push ALL TOO WELL. And Noah puts up with alot, but sometimes you both have it out with each other, and I've learned that unless someone is actually going to get seriously injured that it will play itself out. You are familiar with the "timeout" chair, and will finish doing what you see fit, and then run to the time out chair...saying "Me will sit in the time out chair now." There is a stubborn side as well, which you have a look for (used particularly for apologies or picking up toys).

You know how to go the bathroom on the potty...however, that is a place you have chosen not to do your business. It is getting more and more frustrating, as I know you KNOW what you are doing. You are very verbal, "Mommy, change my diaper. Me have a dirty diaper, me pooped in mine pants." OR this is one of the latest comments, "Me going to my hiding place to poop in my diaper. Me going behind the curtain." UGHHH...child, poop in the toilet! And today, you watched me change Isaac's dirty diaper, and with a disgusted face you said, "Oooohh!! Disgusting Isaac, you pooped in your diaper. That dis-gusting!!" You my friend, have disgusting poop...infant poop is no match. I am certain in your own time you will decide its the thing to do, so I am not pushing you too hard.

You sleep with your blue blankie, in your own bed (although you share a room with Noah). In the last month, you have decided to be a pistol about staying in your bed. You still ask for milk, which you have recently started calling "leche" thanks to your Daddy. So we give you some milk, and after its gone, you get up and moozie down the hall, or downstairs to find us. All the while, you have your blanket mostly covering your head (as if we can't see you right away). You are a mess about this. Daddy usually takes you back to bed, and this repeats several times. You also kick the wall like you are trying out for the Olympic soccer team in the middle of the night. I honestly don't think you realize you do this, but nevertheless, there is nothing hanging on that wall in your room. There were some sticker decals on them, but those were removed today after you proudly announced that you like to rip them off and smash them.

You started going to Sunday School this past month, and so far so good! You truly are growing up in how you handle things. Which is always bittersweet...as you are becoming more and more independent! You got a much needed haircut the other day (however, it is MUCH shorter than intended!) and now you look SO grown up..and much more like Christian.

Some of your favorites:

Reading books (the ones with Otis the tractor and Fred & Ted are your favorites at the moment), yogurt (nearly any flavor), playing in the sand pile, going (just going...whenever someone says they are going, you want to go to!), watching shows (Stinky & Dirty/Shaun the Sheep/Color Crew/Veggie Tales), wrestling with your Daddy and brothers, and baby Isaac.

I am so glad you are healthy and have the ability to bring such a vibrant, active presence our home. Never a dull moment, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

About Us

Our home consists of the five of us...Ben, me (Jessica), and our three little boys. I enjoy the blogging world, taking pictures, and it seems to be a good way of keeping track of our everyday lives...in case it goes by too fast and I forget :)